It's A Beautiful Day

They say here in Texas, "If you don't like the weather, just wait a bit and it will change." That is certainly true this weekend. If was down in the teens and low twenty's the past couple days. Today it is in the upper 60's. And it was Saturday - so I took the kids biking for an hour or so. (Trying to get them tired out so that they'll sleep well.) It is a perfect fall day - clear and bright. There are leaves everywhere, everyone in the neighbor hood is out playing and doing yard work and putting up Christmas decorations. It is all very idyllic. I'm so grateful for days like these. It seems as if life is paused and there is forever to enjoy the moment. And although there are a million other little things that I need to get done, this beautiful day is just calling out to be enjoyed. I'm so grateful that our Heavenly Father created things just to be enjoyed. Sometimes I feel that they were just for me. Truly, there is beauty all around.

Ice Storm Update

Well for us our snow day was great. We made cookies and played games and the kids played outside. But apparently most roads were impassable for most of the day. Up in Dallas an 18 wheeler jack-knifed and plowed into an SUV then burst into flames. The driver escaped unharmed fortunately. On the other side of the freeway at the same time was another accident involving another 18 wheeler. It was taking drivers 9 - 10 hours to make the 3 hour drive from Dallas to Austin. I'm glad that we stayed in. There was just a ton of black ice all over the roads everywhere. Tonight is supposed to be colder than last night - Nearing Zero for some areas. But at least it won't be raining. I still don't understand how the rain doesn't turn into snow when it is so cold. It was way below freezing but raining and sleeting. ANyway, it was fun for us to listen to Christmas music, frost cookies and be warm indoors. The funny thing is - it will be in the upper 60's again by Saturday. I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed by Texas weather.

SNOW DAY

9:00 AM
SCHOOL IS CLOSED!!!!
Wahoo!!!
Now what to do today.....
Aspen was out playing with the ice this morning. The trampoline was a solid sheet of ice. Aspen jumped on it and was sliding all around. She had pieces of ice hanging off her fleece PJ pants. This is as close to snow as we get...so at least Aspen was taking advantage of the situation.

Ice outside

7:00 AM So I had to get up early to check the news to see about school - And we still have to go today (BUMMER). But.... At least they are delaying the start of everything until 10AM, SO the kids get to sleep in and I can go back to bed. THe roads have lots of ice on them and all the overpasses and bridges are shut down. It's a good thing. People in Texas don't know how to drive in anything but sunshine. Unfortunately - no snow. Maybe next time.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

It is soooo cold. It is 27 degrees here in Austin - but with the wind chill
it feels like-----------12 degrees!!!!!
And it's supposed to get into single digits tonight!! This is insanely cold weather for Texas. I went out to take a picture of my house with only a light sweater on and I couldn't stand it I had to run back in after only 25 seconds. Maybe I'm getting wimpy after 8 years of living in Texas. But it is really, really cold. THe wind just gets inside and it is hard to get warm. It is supposed to rain and maybe snow tonight even (my kids are crossing their fingers). And schools are either closing or are being delayed a couple hours tomorrow (my kids are crossing their toes for this one!) It was almost 80 degrees a couple days ago! But that's Texas for you. luckily, I heard that the cold front was coming and so I was able to go and buy coats for my kids yesterday. Good thing. Their old ones were about 3 or 4 inches too short(on the arms) and wouldn't zip up on Isaac. So today we enjoyed hot chocolate after school. And nothing beats a good grilled cheese sandwich and soup on a frigid day like today.

I was going to post some pics, but I think Nate took my firewire for my camera, so, alas, I can't get the pictures off my camera. So there will be some added later.